Condensing apparatus.



J. 1. BROWN. CONDENSING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED-JULY 31. 1914.

Patented June 22, 1915.

WIT/M8858 THE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHOTO-LITHQ, WASHINGTON, D. c.

tinrrnn snares rarnn r orron.

JOHN J. BROWN, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

GON'DENSING APPARATUS.

condensers are employed in conjunction with cooling towers, spray ponds, or natural water supplies, it is freqently necessary to raise the cooling water to an elevation considerably above the condenser.

There is no objection to this in instances where a dry vacuum pump is employed, but the distance the cooling water may be raised when a hydraulic vacuum pump is employed 1s limited, because such pumps are not adapted for elevating water. Consequently, in such instances where hydraulic vacuum pumps are'employed, it is necessary to also'employ additional pumps for raising the water to the required height, in order to deliver the same to the cooling tower, spray pond, or the source of natural water supply from which the cooling water-is taken.

The object of my present invention is to overcome this difficulty, making it possible, in a condenser system, to employ a hydraulic vacuum pump, in all instances, irrespective of the height to which the cooling water must be raised to reach the cooling tower or spray pond, and in carrying out my invention the hydraulic air pump employed is connected directly to the injection pipe and discharges under practically no head in an auxiliary tank, where the air and gases are liberated, and from which, by suitable pipe connections, due to the action of the vacuum in the condenser, the portion of the injection water passed through the hydraulic air pump is returned to the injection pipe so that all of the cooling water is available for condensing purposes, as will be hereinafter more particularly described.

In the drawing, I have illustrated, in side elevation, a condensing apparatus in my present invention is embodied. Referring to the drawing, the condenser employed is indicated at 10. This is a rectangular jet condenser, preferably similar to that shown and described in Letters Patent No. 978,697, granted December 13,

which The condenser is suitably supported, be-

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 22, 1915.

Application filed July 31, 1914. Serial No. 854,239.

ing mounted at one end on a tail pump 11 of the centrifugal "type, and adjacent the other end, upon columns 12, which, together with the pump 11, are fixed to any suitable foundation. An injection pipe 13 leads from the reservoir 14 of a suitable cooling tower,

spray pond, or source of natural water supply, to one end of the condenser 10. This pipe, adjacent the end at which it is connected to the condenser, is fitted with an injec tion valve 15, and, as is customary, to the discharge end of the tail pump 11 is connected a pipe 16, leading to the cooling tower or spray pond, and by which the injection water and condensed steam are returned to the cooling tower, or spray pond, as the case maybe. V i

As illustrated, I have shown the lower portion 33 of a cooling tower rising from the reservoir 14. The cooling tower, as will be understood, may be of any construction known in the art, and as is usual the circulating water is supplied to the upper part thereof fromthe pipe 16 and delivered to a distributing system so that it may be divided and permitted to fall from the distributing system into the reservoir, passing through the'cooling tower .in its descent.

In carrying out my invention, I also employ a hydraulic air pump 17, preferably of the rotary type. At one side, the pump 17 is connected by a pipe 18, which there is a valve 19 with the condenser 10, in order to withdraw the air and other non-condensable vapors from the condenser. The other side of the pump 17 is connected by the pipe 20, in which there is a valve 21, to a nozzle 22 secured in the injection pipe 13, on the side of the valve- 15 distant from the condenser 10.

The discharge of the pump 17 is indicated at 23, and as illustrated in the drawing, empties into an auxiliary tank or receptacle 24, of any desired construction, in which there is preferably provided a partition wall 25, although, as will be understood, this partition wall is not necessary to the operation of the apparatus.

The pipe 26 is connected atone end to a nozzle 27, 011 the injection pipe 13, between the valve 15 and the condenser 10, and terminates at its other end below the water level in theauxiliary tank 24, within which, to this end of the pipe 26, an admission valve 28 is secured. This valve is fitted with a float 29, there being suitable mechanism, connecting the same to the valve, for regulating its operation by the height of the liquid in the auxiliary tank 24.

As illustrated in the drawing, the tail pump 11 and the hydraulic air pump 17 may be driven by a suitable motor 30, to which they are both directly connected, although the manner inwhich these pumps are driven" forms no part of my present invention.

,In the operation of this apparatus, as will be noted from the foregoing description and reference to the drawing, the hydraulic air pump is supplied directly from the injection pipe through the pipe 20, and the supply is controlled by regulating the valve 21. The pump 17 therefore, operates under substantially no head, and discharges into the auxiliary tank 24:, where the air and gases are liberated. I 7

Under ordinary operating conditions, the

vacuum at the point indicated at 31, is subinjection Water supplied to the pump 17,-

which may be approximately 10% thereof, after passing through the pump, where it is not raised more than three or four degrees in temperature, is returned from the auxiliary tank 2a, where it is discharged by the pump, through the pipe 26 to the injection pipe 13, where, with the other injection or cooling Water, it enters the'condenser and is available forcondensing purposes. 7

The valve 28, with its float 29, operates so as to prevent'the liquid in the auxiliary' tank 24 from falling below a pre-determined level in order to prevent any air from passing through the pipe 26 and entering the condenser, and inasmuch as the valve 28 is partially closed at all times, there will be a considerable diiference in vacuum on the opposite sides thereof, which also assists in the operation of the apparatus.

. I claim as my invention:

1-. A steam condensing plant comprising ajet condenser, a'source of injection Water therefor, a hydraulic air pump, a connection from the condenser to the pump for withdrawing the gases from the interior of the condenser, a connection from the said pump to the source of injection water, a receptacle independent of the source of injection water and into which the said pump discharges under afree head, and a pipe connection between the said receptacle and the interior of the condenser so that a portion of the injection Water is first passed through the said pump to withdraw the gases from the condenser and is then returned from the said receptacle through the said pipe connection to the condensefand employed for condensing purposes. 7 .7

2. A steam condensingv apparatus comrisin a 'et condenser a source of in'ection water, an injection pipe leading to the condenser, a discharge pipe leading from-the same, a hydraulic air pump,a connection betweenthe said injection pipe and the said pumpthrough whichwater is supplied to the pump'to operatethesame, a receptacle independent of the source of injection water andinto which the pump discharges under a free head, a pipe connection between the said receptacle and the said injection pipe through which the waterthat is passed through the pumpto. operate the same is returned fromthe said receptacle to thesaid injection pipe to be utilizedfor condensing .purposesjbefore being returned to the said source of injection water.

3. A steam condenslng apparatus comprising a jet condenser,-a cooling tower, an

in ection. pipe leading from the cooling charge pipe leading from the tail pump to the cooling tower,Ia hydraulic air pump, a

tower to the condenser, a tail pump, a disble vapors therefrom, a connection from the said injection pipe to the said pump through which a part of the injection water.

is passed to operate the pump, a receptacle independent of the cooling tower and into which the said pump discharges under a free head, and a pipe connection from the said receptacle to the said injection pipe at a point adjacent the said condenser and through which pipe connection the water for operating the pump is returned from the said receptacle to the said injection'pipe to be utilized for condensing purposes;

41. A steam condensing apparatus comprising a jet condenser, a cooling tower, an injection pipe leading from the cooling tower to the condenser, a tail pump, a discharge pipeleading from the tail pump to the cooling tower, ahydraulic air'pump, a-connection fromthe same to the said condenser for withdrawing the non-condensable vapors therefrom,- a connection from the said inj ection pipeto the said pump through which a part of the injection Water is passed to operate the pump, a receptacle independent of the coolingtower and into which the said pump discharges under a free head, a pipe connection fr'omthe said receptacle to the said injection pipe at a point adjacent the said condenser and through which pipe connection the water for operating the pump said injection pipe to be utilized for eoncontrol Valve in the connection leading from densing purposes; an injection valve in the the condenser to the pump.

10 said injection pipe between the points at Signed by me this 20th day of July, 1914. Which part of the Water is taken therefrom to operate the pump and that part at which JOHN BROWN the Water from the pump is returned there- Witnesses:

to, a control valve in the connection leading FREDK. J. SGHAFFER,

from the injection pipe to the pump, and a D. D. PENDLETON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained forfive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents, Washington, D. G. 

